Upcoming Fall Festivals in Colorado

Vail Snow Daze. Photo: Nate Weigle

With the leaves already changing, another fun Colorado fall kicks off! The season runs from the Autumn Equinox on Thursday, September 23rd, to Wednesday, December 20th, 2017, the day before the Winter Solstice.

Autumn is full of exciting festivals in Colorado, toasting an end to summer and welcoming the cooler fall weather. Aspens transition to shades of red and the beer gets darker. Rafts are traded for snow tubes, and hiking boots for ski boots. It’s an exciting time in the Centennial State!

2017 Annual Colorado Fall Festivals

Emma Crawford Coffin Race. Photo: sports.good.is

A slew of Colorado Oktoberfests kicked off at the end of August and run through mid October. These are just a few of the libation filled festivals to warm you up. There’s also the Great American Beer Fest, Breckenridge Craft Spirits Festival and Denver International Wine Festival.

Festivals in September

Aspen FilmFest. Photo: aspenfilm.org

Breckenridge Film Festival

• Date: Thur-Sun, September 21-24, 2017
• Address: Breckenridge
• About: 37th annual festival features a variety of independent films, premieres, receptions, educational programs and retrospectives; 60 films, parties and forums.

Loveland Stone Age Fair

• Date: Sat-Sun, September 23-24, 2017
• Address: Loveland
• About: Sponsored by the Loveland Archaeological Society, the fair features displays of prehistoric artifacts, skills demonstrations and lectures by archaeologists.

Elk Fest

• Date: Sat-Sun, September 30-October 1, 2017
• Address: Bond Park, Estes Park
• About: Fall festival celebrating the annual elk “rut”. Events include a Mountain Man Rendezvous, Native American music and dancing, a bugling contest, elk seminars and exhibits, as well as food and craft vendors. There’s also an elk-viewing bus.

Festivals in October

Elk Fest. Photo: coloradotravelingducks.com

Elk Fest

• Date: Sat-Sun, September 30-October 1, 2017
• Address: Bond Park, Estes Park
• About: Fall festival celebrating the annual elk “rut”. Events include a Mountain Man Rendezvous, Native American music and dancing, a bugling contest, elk seminars and exhibits, as well as food and craft vendors. There’s also an elk-viewing bus.

Aspen Filmfest

• Date: Tue-Sun, October 3-8, 2017
• Address: Aspen
• About: Aspen Film’s flagship event, the 39th annual filmfest, showcasing narrative and documentary features, along with international independent films.

​Great American Beer Festival

• Date: Thur-Sat, October 5-7, 2017
• Address: Convention Center, Denver
• About: Now in its 31st year, GABF is one of the largest beer festivals in the US, with four sessions to choose from, and over 3500 beers.

Durango Cowboy Poetry Gathering

• Date: Thur-Sun, October 5-8, 2017
• Address: Durango
• About: Celebrate the rich history of the American cowboy, with live performances, poets and musicians.

Knock Your Boots Off Beer Tasting & Chili Cook-Off

• Date: Sat, October 14, 2017
• Address: Golden
• About: 10th annual chili competition featuring bottomless craft beer and chili tastings.

Wine In The Pines

• Date: Fri-Sat, October 20-21, 2017
• Address: Keystone
• About: Summit County’s premier wine festival is now in its 34th year. Enjoy exquisite wine paired with savory cuisine.

Breckenridge Craft Spirits Festival

• Date: Fri-Sun, Oct 20-22, 2017
• Address: Breckenridge
• About: Live music and regional liquor and food. Events include Poker Run, Historic Saloon Walking Tour, Breckenridge Distillery Tours, Honey Gitters live show at the historic Gold Pan Saloon and Hangover Brunch.

Emma Crawford Coffin Races & Parade

• Date: Sat, October 28, 2017
• Address: Manitou Springs
• About: Starts with a parade through town followed by coffin races. 22nd annual, coffin races are teams of four pall bearers and one “Emma”. The races have been covered nationally by the Travel Channel. They are usually held the last Saturday in October, annually since 1995.

Festivals in November

All Colorado Beer Festival. Photo: allcoloradobeerfestival.com

Denver International Wine Festival

• Date: Wed-Fri, November 1-3, 2017
• Address: The Westin Denver International Airport
• About: 13th annual celebration of international food and wine.

All Colorado Beer Festival

• Date: Sat, November 4, 2017
• Address: Colorado Springs
• About: 11th annual big beer festival that raised $70,000 for charities at a previous year’s event. It features more than 80 Colorado brewers.

Evergreen Winterfest

• Date: Sat, November 11, 2017
• Address: Evergreen
• About: Community arts festival showcasing handmade gifts along “Main Street” inside Evergreen High School.

Festivals in December

Georgetown Christmas Market.

Georgetown Christmas Market

• Date: Weekends, December 2-3 & 9-10, 2017, 10am-5pm
• Address: 6th Street, Georgetown
• About: 57th annual Christmas Market is held on the first two Saturday’s and Sunday’s in December. Celebrations include an outdoor European marketplace, holiday entertainment, horse-drawn wagon rides, Saint Nicholas, Christmas museum tours, high tea at Grace Hall, wassail crawl, hot roased chestnuts and Santa Lucia Children’s Procession.

​Vail Snow Daze

• Date: Fri-Sun, December 8-10, 2017
• Address: Vail
• About: Kick off to the 53rd winter season at Vail, featuring live concerts from top performers.

New Year’s Eve Fireworks

• Date: Sun, December 31, 2017
• Address: 16th Street Mall, Downtown Denver
• About: Celebrate the new year with fireworks in downtown Denver. There are two spectacular shows at 9pm and midnight. The 16th Street Mall offers optimal viewing.

Please share any other fun fall events in the comments.